Washing machine driving mechanism



Nov. 1, 1938. .1. MlKULAsEK WASHING MACHINE DRIVING MECHANISM Original Filed May 14, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 \\\\\\\ll////// y NOV. l, 1938. J, MlKULAsEK 2,134,980

WASHING MACHINE vDRIVING MECHANISM Original FiledMay 14, 1932 2 Sheet's-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 1938 `WASHING MACHINNIISEIRIVING MECHA- Jolm Mikulasek; Newton, Iowa.,

Maytag Company, Newton,

tion of Delaware Original 611,279. Divided and assignor to The Iowa, a. corporaappiieation May 14,'1932, semi No.

application. No-

vember Z9, 1935, Serial No. 52,080

` 15 Claims.

operation.

A further object of the invention is the provigg sion of`a novel means and mechanism for driving Another object of the invention is the provi- 35 sion of a novel clutch mechanism associated with drive means.

Further objects are to 40 of maximum simplicity,

In the drawings: S5 Fig. 1 is a view, part in side elevation and part (ci. u vs) in vertical cross section of the yvashing machine and its drive mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view in Vertical cross section taken through the tub, agitator or impeller and the drive mechanism. 5

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken in a plane represented by the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig, 4 is a plan vi Fig. 5 1s a plan v1ew of an alternate construc-A tion of drive mechanism for oscillating or re- 10 ciprocating the agitator or impeller.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure with a c'oncaved bottom 2 15 and side walls 3 forming a substantially uninterrupted continuous surface. The tub is shown as provided with a skirt or housing 4 having supabout. The drive 20 peller 8 as Well as operate the wringer 9, the '25 the top of the casing or'housing l. 30

uid. A bead I6 is mounted in the tub to en- 35 or periphery of the imhose I8. A lid I 9 forms a closure for the top of 45 shaft 2| upon whichis mounted a. pu11eyv22 driv- 50 suitably keyed or xed thereto.

in constant mesh witha worm gear or .wheel 21 55 Y of a gear member, the latter having a bevel gear or pinion 28 in meshing engagement with a bevel gear or pinion 29 fixed on the Wringer drive shaft 30. 'I'his wringer drive shaft is shown as coupled to an aligned shaft 3| by means of a coupling member 32. From the above description it will be readily seen that worm 26, worm wheel or gear 21, and bevel gears 28 and 29are continuously rotated at all times that the motor or power plant is being operated.

In order to oscillate or reciprocate the impeller or agitator 8, the worm wheel 21 and bevel gear 28 rotate upon a sleeve or bushing .33 encompassing the agitator or impeller shaft 34,' the latter being rotatable within this sleeve or bushing. In order to take care of any end thrust and prevent shifting of the gear member making up the worm wheel or gear 21 and gear or pinion 28, the sleeve or bushing 33 is provided with a shoulder 35 against which this member seats. A clutch member 36 is also rotatable upon the sleeve 33 as well as slidable thereon and is provided with one or more upwardly or outwardly projecting pins 31 suitably mounted thereon and extending through the gears 21 and 28 so that these gears and' the clutch member rotate together as a unit.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the clutch member 36 is disclosed as in raised or clutching position whereby the gears 21 and 28 and the clutching member may be in contacting engagement, and the pin 31 is raised into a position Where it engages in an opening 38'in a clutch plate 39. Mounted upon this clutch plate is an eccentric 40 provided with a strap or collar 4| connected to a pitman arm 42. The clutch plate 39, eccentric disc 40 and collaror strap 4| are also rotatably mounted upon the sleeve 33.

This clutch member 36 is provided with an annular groove 43 in which is seated a bifurcated clutch arm 44 pivotally mounted upon a shaft or rod 45, the latter being adapted to be rotated and the arm shifted by meansof a clutch handle 46 conveniently mounted on the exterior of the tub or machine. In order to communicate the oscillating or reciprocating movements of the eccentric disc 4|) to the shaft 34, the arm 42 is fulcrumed at 41 to a cantilever 48, one end of which is pivotally mounted upon a stub shaft 49, and the opposite` end connected to a link 50 and arm 5| keyed or fixed to the agitator or impeller shaft 34. By reason of this arm and link construction. the continuous rotation 4of the worm gear or wheel 21 communicated to the eccentric disc 40 by reason of the clutch member 36 and clutching plate 39, is changed to an oscillatory or reciprocatory movement imparted`to the shaft 3 4 and the impeller or agitator 8. i

The shaft 34 is disclosed as bearing in the sleeve 33 and likewise in a the upper portion of the casing or housing 1. Adjacent its upper end, the shaft 34 is suitably keyed to a splined-torque-head A 53 upon which is mounted the impeller or agitator. The coupling of the agitator or impeller to the shaft and the torque-head may be made in any suitable manner but preferably permitting a ready detachment and replacement of the agitator or impeller.

In order to prevent seepage or leakage of the washing uid from the tub, there is provided a packing 55 seating against a spring 56 on the top of the casing or housing 1, and at its upper edge threaded to a sleeve 51 having a lower annular flange 58 adapted to seat against the exterior of the tub. This sleeve 51 is also threaded exteriorly to receive a cap 59 adapted to ing the agitator shaft, and clutch sleeve 52 provided inseat against the interior of the tub and to draw the' ange 58 of the sleeve 51 into seating engagement with the exterior of the tub. This cap is provided with an annular opening in which is seated a packing or washer 60 and by reason of this construction an efficient liquidtight seal is provided.

In Fig. 5 is disclosed an alternate construction of drive mechanism for the impeller or agitator in which the arm 42 of the eccentric 40 is connected at 6| to a gear segment 62 pivotally mounted on a stub shaft 63. This segment is reciprocated or oscillated by the eccentric and in turn mesheswith a pinion 64 suitably keyed or fixed on the agitator shaft 34 and imparts an oscillatory or reciprocatory movement to the shaft 34 and the agitator or impeller.

From the above description and the disclosure in the drawings, it will be readily seen and appreciated that the invention comprises a novel means and method of operating the agitator or impeller of a washing machine, as well as the wringer drive. p

Having thus disclosed the invention,

I claim:

1. In a gearing for washing machines provided with a tub, an oscillating shaft extending into said tub, drive means on said oscillating shaft, a constantly driven. shaft driven by said drive means, an eccentric for oscillating the shaft and clutch means for connecting and disconnecting said drive means and eccentric.

2. In a gearing for washing machines provided with a tub, a housing positioned at one side of said tub, an oscillating shaft having a bearing in said housing and extending into said tub, drive means on said oscillating shaft, a constantly driven shaft also having a bearing in said housing and driven by said drive means, an eccentric for oscillating the shaft and clutch means for connecting and disconnecting said drive means and eccentric.

3. In an' operating mechanism for the agitator and wringer shaft of a washing machine, com* prising a continuously rotating drive means on the agitator shaft, a drive pinion on said wringer shaft in constant meshing engagement with said drive means, an eccentric for oscillating said agitator shaft, and clutch means for connecting and disconnecting said drive means and eccentric.

4. In gearing for washing machines, in combination, an oscillating agitator shaft, a .driven wringer shaft,J driving means for said shafts comprising a worm and a worm wheel and pinion loose on said agitator shaft, a pinion fixed on said wringer shaft in constant mesh with said rst mentioned pinion, an eccentric for oscillatmeans for clutching said worm wheel and eccentric to the agitator shaft for rapidly oscillating the same.

5. In gearing mechanism for operating a washing machine, in combination, an oscillating shaft, a constantly driven shaft, an eccentric member loosely mounted on said oscillating shaft, continuously rotated gearing on said oscillating shaft adapted to drive said lconstantly driven shaft, clutch means for connecting sa'd gearing and eccentric, and means connecting the eccentric and oscillating shaft for oscillating said last mentioned shaft. l

6. Mechanism for operating the agitator and wringer shaft of a washing machine, comprising in combination, an agitator shaft, a wringer shaft, and means on said agitator shaft for oscillating said agitator shaft and for continuously constantly rotating said wringer shaft, said means including 12. In an operating mechanism for the agitator yon said plate, and link mechanism connected to oscillation.

a continuously rotating drive member, an eccenand wringer of a washing machine, comprising tric loosely mounted on said agitator shaft, clutch an agitator shaft, a wringer shaft drive means oscillating said shaft. rapidly oscillating the last mentioned shaft, and

7. Mechanism for operating the agitator and a clutch for connecting and disconnecting the wringer shaft of a. washing machine, comprising drive and eccentric means. in combination an agitator shaft, a Wringer shaft, 13. A power drive unit for oscillating the agitadrive gear, a pinion on said drive gear meshing the movement of the shaft is rapidly accelerated tric to said agitator shaft for oscillating the last means,l an arcuate arm connected intermediate mentioned shaft. its ends to the connecting rod, one 'end of the 8. In an operating mechanism for the agitator arm being`xed and the other end free to transof a Washing machine, a shaft for said agitator mit .the motion given it by the connecting rod and means carried by the agitator shaft for oscila link pivoted at its one end tov the free end of lating said shaft,said -means comprising a conthe armand a member having its one end piv- 26 30 said eccent c and to said shaftfor oscillating the 14. A power drive unit for oscillating the agitashaft and agitator. tor shaft of-a Washing machine, comprising a 9. In an operating mechanism fOr the agitator continuously rotating drive means, and means for of a Washing machine, a shaft for said agitator transforming the continuous rotation into an and means for oscillating saidshaft, said means oscillatory motion ofdesired amplitude in which adapted to receive said pin whereby to form a pnsing a connecting rod reciprocated by the drive the shaft and agitator. through a desired arc and cycle of oscillation,

, means and oscillated thereby, and a pinion connecting the drive and eccentric means, and

wringer shaft and for rapidly oscillating the JOHN MIKULASEK. 

